Austin writer Chris Roberson on his new ‘Superman’ run

Talk about flying high. Not only is Austin writer Chris Roberson taking over storytelling duties for a lauded scribe like J. Michael Straczynski, he’s doing so with the Man of Steel himself in the superhero’s title comic. JMS’s success with the very stellar Superman: Earth One has him focusing full-time on a follow-up, leaving Roberson to guide Kal-El through what’s left of JMS’s current “Grounded” arc for Superman. Roberson begins his groundwork with this week’s Superman No. 707.

Roberson took time from Superman’s meta-walkabout to answer a few questions about his new super gig.

With JMS off to focus on Superman: Earth One, how much of “Grounded” did he leave for you to work on? In other words, did you just get a basic outline from JMS or something more/less to flesh out? How many issues are you writing?

I’m writing the last eight issues of the “Grounded” storyline. When I signed on, the editors Matt Idelson and Wil Moss gave me JMS’s outline for the story, which served as a roadmap for the trip, if you like. All of the stops along the way were spelled out, and there’s a very definite end-point that I need to reach, but there’s a lot of room for side-trips and improvisation along the way.

You’ve probably seen that “Grounded” has taken some lumps criticism-wise. Does that make this gig any more/less intimidating than the fact that you’re also writing the most iconic character in comics and pop culture?

The mere fact that I’m writing SUPERMAN is intimidating enough on its own! But honestly, having been a fervent Superman fan since I was six years old, I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to contribute, at least in small part, to his ongoing adventures.

'Superman' No. 707 (DC Comics website)

What can we expect from your Superman run?

Appearances by friends and foes, old and new, as Superman tries to reconnect with the principles of Truth, Justice, and the American Way — Wonder Woman, Batman, the Flash, Jimmy Olsen, even the Superman Squad!

You’ve made it pretty clear in interviews you’re a big Superman fan. What is it about the character that resonates so with you, especially now that you’re taking part in crafting his never-ending narrative?

Superman was the first superhero, and remains the template from which all others are struck. He works on so many levels — as the ultimate immigrant, the demigod on Earth, the self-made man — that he is open to an endless range of interpretation and reinterpretation. At the core, though, is the notion of a being with godlike powers who chooses to spend part of every day living as a normal man. He is stronger and faster and tougher than anyone else — but he is wise enough to know that not every problem can be solved through brute force. That’s because, as too many people often forget, Superman is also SMARTER than anyone else.

It’s actually the other way around. I grew up reading superhero comics, and never gave them up, so my other comics work, like my science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories, was always informed and influenced by my love for the superhero genre. Getting a chance to write Superman is really just a matter of returning to my first love.

Last question: What other work can we look forward to from you, prose and/or sequential art?